If you need an even quicker boost – ideally while building a budget and living within it – sometimes a credit repair company can help as well. These are for-profit companies that usually charge a fee to help you build a plan to repair your credit. What they do isn’t magic; they simply follow the same steps you could take on your own. The difference is, they do the work for you. If you’re simply too busy to put in the time to dispute incorrect information on a credit report or work out payment plans with creditors, you might consider a credit repair firm.

First step: Be sure to read our article about separating the legitimate credit repair firms from less-reputable companies. Then, look to well-established companies with a track record of helping other people like you.

Following is a list of accredited companies that aaacreditguide.com reviewed and their comments. We summarize their findings, but you’ll want to click through for the full reviews:

“Lexington Law – As a licensed and bonded law firm, Lexington Law is at the top of aaacreditguide.com’s list of qualified credit report repair companies. At the time of this review, they have 22 lawyers on staff and over 400 paralegals as well. This number is expected to remain on pace to allow the company to service the hundreds and thousands of satisfied customers who’ve been able to improve their credit.”

“CreditRepair.com – CreditRepair.com is quickly becoming one of the most popular options for people with bad credit. They’re designed to be a one-stop solution for customers who want credit repair and credit monitoring all-in-one. Their comprehensive solution allows people to stay on top of their credit 24/7, even when they are away from the computer. The included credit monitoring from TransUnion adds significant value as similar services can cost anywhere from $25 per month and up.”

Thecreditpeople.com – “For those who are looking to increase their credit score, but are leery of having to pay a monthly fee, The Credit People offers a viable alternative with great results. The company offers several ways to get started. For those who prefer the traditional route, there is a $19 setup fee and a monthly rate of $69 per month – very reasonable for repairing your credit. For those who want to avoid paying every month, The Credit People charges a set fee of $19 for set up and a flat rate of $299 – this covers all work done for you for a full six months, and there are no ongoing monthly commitments.”

Sky Blue – “Sky Blue is another highly-rated company, and is particularly good at helping people decide when and what to dispute on their credit reports. Because most people don’t understand the nuances of the laws that allow them to repair their credit, having a professional guide the process can go a long way to seeing better results. One other advantage with Sky Blue is their accelerated dispute process. While most credit restoration companies start with only a few items, Sky Blue will challenge up to 15 items (5 items per bureau). This means that if you have a lot of negative items, you can potentially get more of them dismissed at a faster rate.”

In addition to repairing your credit, if you see your credit score and realize you’re juggling too many credit card bills, especially ones with variable interest rates, a personal loan from LendingPoint can help consolidate debt. Having only one consistent, affordable monthly payment is far easier to manage, and an installment loan weighs less against your credit score than revolving debt.See what we can do for you. Our application process is simple and quick, and once approved you could have funds deposited in your account in as little as one business day.